Phenols of pharmacological interest in leaves of wild grapevines (Vitis spp.) of Mexico

Sedentary styles of life, along with inadequate nutritional habits, increase the risk to develop degenerative chronic diseases. Searching for possible alternatives of prevention for those risks, it has been investigated about the quality and nutraceutic properties of several agricultural commodities. The phenols are substances with important functions in vegetal organisms; and moreover they have antioxidants properties in the cellular metabolism of humans and animals. In order to quantify the content of three phenolic acids and a stilbene, it was performed analyses, by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV/Vis), on metanolic leave extracts of 97 wild grapevines (Vitis spp.) of Puebla, Mexico. Those plants were found growing in their natural environments from 207 to 2175 m. The gallic acid was the most common of the metabolites since it appeared in 96 of the 97 samples, rutin was the second most common substance and it was identified in 80 samples, the caffeic acid appeared in 29 and finally resveratrol only in 14. The leaves of wild grapevines contain diverse antioxidants substances that might have several benefits in the human health; in addition the suitable conservation, maintenance and correct advantage of this plant genus provide environmental services and the balance of ecosystems.